Overview & Reviews

Few cars are as instantly recognizable as the Mini. Loved for its diminutive dimensions and cheerful good looks, the British-born car has inspired passionate devotion both in the U.S. and abroad. The brand was briefly discontinued, but was revived in 2002 with help from BMW. Successfully paying homage to the original Mini Cooper of the 1960s, the reincarnated Cooper combines an athletic, BMW-engineered chassis with a space-efficient interior and a generous standard features list.

The history of the Mini make began in 1959. The original Mini car was produced by the British Motor Corporation (BMC) in England and its mission was to be a lightweight, agile four-passenger car that took up minimal space. In a sense, the brand was born out of necessity. The United Kingdom was subject to fuel rationing in the wake of the Suez crisis, and British consumers clamored for vehicles that offered optimum fuel efficiency.

The car was originally sold under BMC's Austin and Morris brands; the Mini name didn't make an appearance until 1961. Although it had just 34 horsepower, the Mini was the ideal urban car and proved popular in crowded European cities. In 1961, John Cooper, a man who built Formula One racecars, put his magic hands on the Mini and the result was the ferocious Mini Cooper. His Cooper S model had (at 76 hp) more than double the output of the standard Mini. That infusion of power, along with suspension tweaks and some really good driving, had Mini winning the Monte Carlo Rally four years in a row (1964-'67). The marque landed on American shores in 1962.

The '60s truly was the decade of the Mini. New variations on the car's theme came with the introduction of vehicles like the Mini Pickup and the Mini Moke, a vehicle that resembled a quirky cross between a Mini and a Jeep. The car's abbreviated proportions are even rumored to have played a part in sparking a fashion trend; the miniskirt raised hemlines and became emblematic of an era. Mini motorcars tore up the asphalt on the silver screen, with the brand's appearance in the 1969 film The Italian Job. By the end of the decade, more than 2 million Mini motorcars had been produced. Sadly, the vehicle was pulled from the United States in 1968, in the wake of strict new emissions regulations.

Though no longer available in the U.S., Mini remained in production in Europe through the '70s and '80s. By the mid-'80s, more than 5 million Minis had been produced worldwide. In 1994, the brand was acquired by the BMW Group. The marque went on hiatus in 2000, but was resurrected (and brought back to American shores) in 2002 with the launch of the entry-level, front-drive Mini Cooper hatchback. Thoroughly modern in every way, right down to its BMW-engineered suspension, steering and brakes, the Mini Cooper is sold alongside its cousins at BMW dealerships.

Today, Mini's offerings include various derivatives of the Cooper, including a coupe, a roadster and a convertible; the slightly longer Clubman; high-performance John Cooper Works variants; and even the crossover SUV-inspired four-door Countryman. With such a diverse, fun-loving lineup, it's no wonder that Mini has become one of America's most desirable small car automakers.

User Reviews:

• 

  I <3 my Mini - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Michela8090 - January 17 - 10:50 pm

  My mini is my first car, i bought it myself and absolutely love it!!! My mom has one also and we both couldnt be happier with there performances. My mini was built with the sports package and its the best, the seats are so comfortable and the steering quality is excellent. The Mini Cooper is a great car for people of all ages and heights, even my 6 foot 4 Grandpa fits in it with ease. Great over all car!!!

• 

  TRY ONE ! - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By ootaypanky - January 17 - 10:00 am

  Ive been in the automobile business since the early 70s. I was a Mercedes technician, sold them for 10 years, sold Porsche, Audi and Lexus as well. Over the years I have driven some fine automobiles, to be sure. But I must admit I was AMAZED when I drove the Mini. I started out driving the base model with a 5 speed manual and was thoroughly impressed. Next I drove the supercharged S model with a 6 speed. Again, an amazing experience. I opted for the S. Let it suffice to say, its AWESOME. A supercharged asphalt magnet. I HIGHLY recommend PRESTIGE MINI in MAHWAH,N.J. to anyone looking for a truly TOP NOTCH DEALERSHIP

• 

  2004 mini - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By khjewels - January 17 - 10:00 am

  definitly as fun to drive as it looks. feels much larger on the inside than it appears to be. but, if you dont like attention, the mini is not for you.

• 

  Review mini - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By itsaudrey - January 17 - 10:00 am

  Terrfic little car, good on gas, has all the extras that a luxury car has, and it is great to find and get parking spaces.

• 

  MINI Cooper - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By V M - January 16 - 8:20 pm

  My MINI Cooper has been one of the best cars that I have ever owned. I would buy another MINI in a heartbeat. I am 510" 240 lbs. and fitting in cars with the width of my back is hard but I fit in this car with no problem. Everyone I know fits in my car, from my 64" brother to my 54" 120lb girlfriend. This car is great.

• 

  Lets Motor - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By Marvel S - January 12 - 11:16 am

  We now have 2 Minis and love both of them. The Convertible is definitely a head turner. It is lots of fun to drive and totally different from anything on the road today. My 2002 has 30,000 miles and has been very reliable. Between the two cars the only major problem has been with the convertible roof. It is easy to use, but gets white marks on it when raising and lowering. The car has been recalled for this problem. It still does it after the fix. It looks like it can cause early wear. Besides that one problem, the car has been flawless and just a blast to drive. Lets Motor!

• 

  Fun Car - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By tennis_man - January 12 - 10:00 am

  Have been driving this car for two weeks and it is a blast. Great build quality, tight handling, and just plain fun to drive.

• 

  fun with a smile - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By captain mike - January 8 - 3:23 am

  This car is attractive, extremely fun to drive, and glued to the road, with no fear of tipping over. It has a great feel through the controls and terrific fuel economy even if you drive it hard. It corners better than my Mercedes-Benz AMG. Unfortunately, two sets of golf clubs will not fit in it.

• 

  Love this car - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By shuck - January 6 - 7:20 am

  My wife drives our MINI Cooper. I wish we had two so that I could drive it all the time. I just cant say enough good things about this car.

• 

  The best car ever! - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Jake del Campo - January 3 - 10:00 am

  The mini cooper S is the best car I have ever own the car is so styling and the performence and handling is the best!!!